KommAKlima: Local government climate change adaptation structures, processes and instruments | Umweltbundesamt

The global average temperature has risen by almost 1 ° C between 1901 and 2008. According to current climate projections, further global warming of between 2 ° C and 4.5 ° C is expected by the year 2100. In particular, greenhouse gas emissions (such as carbon dioxide, methane) are linked to so-called anthropogenic climate change. The global climatic changes cause different consequences depending on the climatic zones, such as:

• longer lasting and more intense periods of heat, cold and drought, ocean warming and sea level rise,
• flooding of low-lying coastal regions,
• an increase in precipitation intensity and a lack of capacity of the natural retention function of the landscape and associated flood hazards,
• a reduction in winter snowfall in Europe, especially in the high altitudes of the Alps as well
• a change in the storm intensities

With regard to long-term climatic trends, regional climate projections predict for Germany the following changes:

• Increasing the average annual temperature by about 2.5 ° C to 3.5 ° C by the year 2100 - among others. associated with warmer summer and milder winter temperatures,
• Increase in the number of hot days (minimum 7, maximum 36 days) with a temperature maximum above 30 ° C until the period 2071-2100,
• Changes in precipitation patterns - expected to reduce rainfall
• in summer as well as increased precipitation and storms in the winter months,
• further sea level rise of 50 to 100 cm by the year 2100 as well
• Increase in extreme weather events throughout Germany - e.g. intense heat periods and heavy rainfall

Certain regions in Germany are particularly vulnerable to this classify climate change:

• North: Coastal regions are increasingly threatened by sea-level rise and possibly changes in storm events. This mainly affects wetlands and lowland areas as well as regions with a high potential for damage, such as the Port of Hamburg.
• East: Due to the unfavorable climatic water balance, summer drought could affect the eastern part of Germany in the future, which would have a strong impact on agriculture.
• South: In southwestern Germany (Oberrheingraben) with the highest temperatures at present, the strongest warming is expected in the future. There are more frequent and intense heat spells in this region. The biodiversity of alpine flora and fauna is additionally threatened by climate change.
• In addition, reduced snow reliability and an increased flood risk in the winter and summer months can be expected in this region.
• West: Increased vulnerability to flooding is expected, especially for regions of the left and right bank of the Rhine, such as the Emscher-Lippe region.

Extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall, floods and storms can lead to channel overload and have consequences for technical, social and transport infrastructure. Likewise, urban heat islands appear and act as heat storage, so that the inner-city temperature is higher than in the surrounding area. In urban areas, inversion weather conditions can increase the concentration of air pollutants combined with heat, air pollution and humidification.

Impact on the municipal action area Planning and Building

• pollution of land, soils and urban waters,
• Moisture of masonry,
• penetration of water into buildings,
• damage to existing buildings, outdoor facilities and infrastructure as well
• Dangers to building security
• Positive effects such as lower heating costs in the winter months and increasing traffic safety can also be achieved

Impact on the municipal action area Environment and nature

Due to changing temperature and precipitation conditions as well as the increasing frequency of extreme weather events, it can

• extent or shift the vegetation periods of plants,
• alter life processes in animals (such as hibernation, bird migration, breeding season) as well as
• shift the distribution areas poleward or even
• change species composition and structure of whole ecosystems

Impact on the municipal action area Health

Direct health impairments occur e.g. as a result of weather-related extreme events (such as heat waves, heavy storms and storms, floods). Floods and floods, for example, as a result of heavy rainfall events (especially in urban areas) harbor a large number of health risks. These include, among others:

• Inadequate or non-existent health care due to disturbances and / or dysfunctions of important infrastructures (for example, hospitals, care facilities, transport routes, drinking water networks),
• irritation to the skin and mucous membranes as well as respiratory diseases due to the long-term effects of flooding (eg humid, bacterial or mold-infested structures),
• acute injury or death by drowning,
• Impairment of mental health (such as traumatization, anxiety, depression

In particular, long-lasting high temperatures (heat waves) mean

• a significant health risk for the elderly over the age of 65 (mainly for individuals with limited physical or mental health),
• an increase in health risks in certain working conditions such as
• strenuous outdoor physical activities (such as civil engineering work) or a lack of adequate ventilation in the workplace, as well as
• depending on factors such as gender or socioeconomic status z.T. different sensitivities to heat (studies show, for example, greater involvement in women as a result of heat stress)

Urban areas have a particularly high vulnerability to the effects of climate change, due to their characteristics (for example, high density and population density, specific infrastructures, complex disposal systems, high vulnerability and damage potential and often exposed geographical location).

However, the potential health effects of climate change presented do not affect all individuals equally. Certain populations are particularly vulnerable to climate-related health risks. Due to environmental or personal factors, these so-called vulnerable groups are at increased risk for the consequences of climate change:

• old and very old people,
• persons with chronic diseases,
• infants and toddlers,
• people with disabilities,
• People with limited access to information regarding individual adaptation measures (such as heat-adapted behavior) and reduced ability to access such information, as well as
• Persons whose living environment is already affected by a low supply of green and open spaces and / or increased levels of air pollutants

The Federal Ministry for the Environment, for example, is promoting the directive for the promotion of climate protection projects in social, cultural and public institutions:

• the development of climate protection concepts and sub-concepts (including adaptation to climate change);
• the implementation of climate protection concepts by climate change managers;
• Advisory services for municipalities, which are at the beginning of their climate protection activities;
• investment measures that lead to a reduction of CO2 emissions

There can be a multitude of synergies between climate protection and climate adaptation. Numerous measures can equally serve both climate adaptation and climate protection. Such a win-win action may e.g. the preservation and expansion of strategically planned fresh air corridors in the form of green spaces. Also roof and facade greening can help both to mitigate the effects of climate change in cities and to protect biological diversity and for the insulation of buildings and thus to reduce heating and cooling energy requirements.